HR 3132

["Chaffin, Mark J. \(HSC\)" <Mark-Chaffin@xxxxxxxxx>]

There is a Bill in the U.S. Congress which, among other things, would
require mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for children and
youth adjudicated on the basis of illegal sexual behavior (the Amie Zyla
section of H.R. 3132).  I believe this is well intentioned but
tragically misguided. However, there is substantial advocacy behind this
push.  

As child abuse researchers, I believe we all have an interest in this
legislation.  To me, I believe it will abuse more children than it will
prevent from being abused, and moreover is at odds with most of the
factual information we have on children with sexual behavior problems
and juvenile offenders.  I encourage all professionals interested in
this issue to review the text of the bill and make your opinion known to
your representative.  I have drafted a response to the bill which I
would be happy to share upon request.

To obtain the Bill text, go to:  http://thomas.loc.gov/home/search.html
Search for H.R. 3132.

Email for members of the House Judiciary Committee can be found at:
http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx

MC

Mark Chaffin, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901; CSC 225
Oklahoma City, OK  73190
(405) 271-8858